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Although the old year had passed, the Lantern Rite was not yet over.
Hu Tao organized a banquet at Xinyue Pavilion.
"This girl is so young, lively, and impulsive in how she acts, yet everyone at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor treats her with the utmost respect. Even… Zhongli is very courteous toward her and serves as her 'consultant'… Such an unusual person. Shenhe, you've been down the mountain for quite some time now—are you familiar with her?"
"Mm. Hu Tao is Xiangling's good friend. I work at Wanmin Restaurant and often run into her, and over time we became good friends. She's quite interesting—her poetry is strange, her songs are strange, her taste in food is strange too, but she's a good person."
"That aligns with my own assessment. In that case, let us go and see this banquet of hers." Cloud Retainer naturally moved to take the lead, but after lifting her leg, she stopped again. "Xinyue Pavilion… I believe I've heard of it. Isn't that the famous 'Yue Cuisine' restaurant in Liyue Harbor?"
"Yes. It's different from Wanmin Restaurant. Setting aside the price, even reserving a table requires booking far in advance."
"Then… where exactly is it?"
Understanding immediately, Shenhe said, "I'll lead the way for you, Master."
After walking some distance, she added, "Oh right, Master—Hu Tao should have invited others as well."
"Who?"
"Victor Wang, Lumine, Xiangling, and also Chongyun and Xingqiu."
"The first few are all familiar faces. Chongyun has some blood relation to you and can be considered my junior. Xingqiu is a mutual friend of yours. That's fine. As long as they don't become overly restrained because of my presence."
"Mm. Xinyue Pavilion is just ahead. The room Hu Tao reserved is—"
"Wait a moment. Are you referring to that building ahead?" Cloud Retainer pushed her glasses and confirmed with Shenhe.
"On both sides of the main road directly facing the Ministry of Civil Affairs… Liuli Pavilion and Xinyue Pavilion. Without conspicuous signboards, it's easy to take a wrong turn. But the sign here features fish and water rather than a fan and mountains, which means it specializes in seafood—Yue Cuisine—so we shouldn't be mistaken."
"It's not a matter of location. There is an exceptionally powerful Anemo elemental force on the upper floor of this building, so pure it feels like the embodiment of wind itself…"
"Master, you mean—?" Shenhe was startled. For an adeptus highly skilled in wielding Anemo to say such words was almost the highest form of praise.
"Though it's hard to believe, that is very likely Barbatos, the Anemo Archon…" Cloud Retainer adjusted her glasses again, her expression solemn. "I have met him on several occasions. Though much time has passed, the aura still carries a faint sense of familiarity."
"Then what should we do?"
"…Forget it. I'm merely curious as to why he's here. With his personality, he's destined not to do anything malicious. Let us act as if he doesn't exist and ignore him. We'll go inside."
"Alright."
After a brief exchange with the hostess of Xinyue Pavilion, another attendant stepped forward and led Shenhe and Cloud Retainer to the room Hu Tao had reserved.
Along the way, Cloud Retainer could not stop pondering the Anemo Archon's purpose for being here. After pushing open the door to the [Full Moon Chamber], the sole early arrival inside caused her eyes to widen slightly—
"Cloud Retainer, Shenhe, you're here."
"Mister Zhongli, I thought we arrived rather late." Shenhe glanced back toward the door, then looked at the circle of empty chairs and hesitated. "Now I'm not quite sure where to sit."
"No need to be courteous. Sit wherever you like."
"Oh, right… I remember that Master and Mister Zhongli are quite close, aren't you? You two should sit together."
Zhongli: "..."
Cloud Retainer: "..."
Normally, when facing a table full of juniors, Cloud Retainer would naturally sit with Zhongli. But… Your Grace, is this truly fine? Will it expose your identity? Should we clarify this matter to Shenhe first and discuss it afterward?
Zhongli responded in kind with his thoughts. There is no issue.
Shenhe only saw the two of them fall silent. She wondered if there had been some misunderstanding, but then thought it unlikely… Before descending the mountain, Master had deliberately instructed her that if she ever encountered Mister Zhongli drinking alone on the stone bench in front of the adeptal abode, she should not disturb him and let him sit quietly for a while. If they truly didn't know each other, that would be impossible.
Fortunately, Cloud Retainer reacted. She cleared her throat lightly and sat down beside Zhongli. Shenhe then followed and took a seat next to her.
"By the way, why isn't Hu Tao here?"
"The Director said she went to pick up a guest and asked me to receive everyone here first."
"Pff—cough, cough…"
"Careful. Though Xinyue Pavilion's tea is excellent, it's still best to sip it slowly."
"Mister Zhongli is right…"
"Miss Cloud Retainer has been living in Liyue Harbor for several days now. Are you accustomed to it?"
"It's alright. Aside from being livelier than the mountains, there's not much difference. However, living among mortals inevitably brings concerns over money. Shenhe spent all the money she earned on buying a house, and as her master, I can't ignore that. I'm planning to exchange some mechanisms for Mora—does Mister Zhongli happen to know any channels?"
"That's easily arranged. I know several avenues, such as—" He was about to elaborate when footsteps sounded outside the room. Zhongli paused. "We can discuss it in detail later."
This time, the ones who entered were Xiangling, Xingqiu, and Chongyun.
Xiangling was very familiar with Cloud Retainer, and Xingqiu and Chongyun had also met her during the incident when Victor Wang went missing at Mt. Aocang. Although she had taken on the form of Cloud Retainer and had been moving around Liyue Harbor these past few days, with Shenhe's introductions, everyone recognized her new appearance.
Only Chongyun appeared somewhat restrained. Xiangling, however, cheerfully greeted her straight away. "Auntie Cloud Retainer!"
"Ah, Xiangling. Last time you evaluated my Mechanized Cooking Device and said that cooking must be done by hand to be authentic. But if you think about it carefully, I personally build my mechanisms by hand as well—doesn't that make them authentic too?"
"That only makes the mechanism authentic. The food itself still isn't." At the mention of this, Xiangling immediately pouted.
"You child…" Cloud Retainer sighed. "Coincidentally, I've made further improvements to the Mechanized Cooking Device. How about we pick a time and see whose dishes taste better?"
"Can food made by a mechanism really taste good? Wouldn't it feel strange? In any case, I firmly believe that food without a chef's heart poured into it has no soul!" Xiangling upheld her dignity as a chef without yielding an inch.
"Heh…" Listening to their argument, Zhongli suddenly let out a soft chuckle and, filled with emotion, drank a cup of tea.
Interrupted by this, Cloud Retainer recalled something. She abruptly abandoned her argument with Xiangling and sighed. "Back then, when your master and Guizhong argued over whether music could be performed using mechanisms, she said something very similar… Now that I think about it, although the topic has shifted from music to cooking, your personality truly comes from the same lineage as your master's."
"Guizhong?" Xiangling tilted her head in confusion.
"You haven't heard of her… That's understandable. I'll have Shenhe tell you later. I won't dwell on it now."
With the conversation diverted like this, Chongyun no longer felt as nervous as before. He greeted Xingqiu, and the three of them all took their seats.
Xiangling familiarly sat down beside Shenhe and said to Zhongli and Shenhe, "Xinyan's performance at the music festival earlier was amazing. The audience loved it, so she's been getting tons of invitations lately and has become incredibly busy. Even Yun Jin has gone to help her out."
Zhongli nodded slightly. "Xinyan's music and Mister Yun's opera are both excellent. Though Xinyan's rock is somewhat niche, its popularity was foreseeable. Now that she's been recognized, it's a good thing."
Chongyun said, "That's why they couldn't make it, but they asked us to pass along their greetings to everyone and wish you all a happy festival and an enjoyable gathering."
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